Artwork
The Lion Seeks Advice
The Lion Seeks Advice is an ink print by the Baroque artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Lion Seeks Advice, an etching by Dutch Golden Age artist Allart van Everdingen, dates to circa 1650. This print showcases the artist's proficiency in etching, a key medium during his prolific 17th-century printmaking career.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a lion standing upright, surrounded by a leopard, wolf, and ram, all attentively looking up at it. The lion's posture suggests a position of authority, implying it is either leading the group or dispensing advice.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous line work, the etching clearly delineates the textures of the animals' fur and their forms. The background features a tree, bushes, and a distant fence or wall, all rendered with precision.
History & Provenance
Created around 1650, the work exemplifies Everdingen's engagement with printmaking techniques prevalent during the Dutch Golden Age. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
As a 17th-century etching, The Lion Seeks Advice reflects the era's artistic trends, where printmaking was a valued medium for both artistic expression and dissemination of images.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.
A Leopard and Two Lions
Reynard the Fox: The Lion's Council
Reynard Promises to Reveal the Hidden Treasure
The Animals Present Their Charges Against Reynard
The Lion Orders a Mass Assault on Reynard
Reynard the Fox: Reynard Appears at Court
Reynard the Fox: Lion Orders Search for Reynard
The Lion Pardons Reynard before the Other Animals
Reynard's Relatives Plead for Him
The Lion Announces a Peace